After Jesus picked up the towel
and washed the dirty feet of his proud and prickly disciples, he sat down again at the table and told the now-humbled Twelve, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightfully so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13-14).

That is why from time to time we present a “Servant Towel” here at College Avenue: for Christians the lowly towel is a divinely-ordained symbol of selfless service. It is given to individuals who do not seek the spotlight, but instead who faithfully work to do whatever needed to accomplished without any thought of recognition or reward this side of heaven. We have literally hundreds of individuals in this congregation who fit that category, but on September 23 we were pleased to recognize two servants who are representative of that spirit. For more than 40 years Gary & Lana Cobb have given freely of themselves, serving in far too many different capacities to enumerate. Whether it involved hosting a bridal shower or hosting a Growth Group; whether it meant serving as a deacon or an elder, or swinging a hammer on a Hurricane relief mission trip; if we needed workers for our annual Work Day or Friend Day or VBS or youth activity or Bible class or Growth Group ministry, these two individuals could always be counted on to pitch in.

They have been a personal encouragement to me and an asset to our church family. This recognition was bittersweet, because Gary and Lana are moving to Bentonville, but we are confident that they will carry a College Avenue spirit with them to North Arkansas and do us proud there as well.
–Dan Williams

College Avenue Church